Race industry fears over WYD "chaos"

Published: 19 March 2007

Horse trainers fear that up to 800 horses that train at Randwick will
be forced to move elsewhere for up to six weeks, creating chaos in the
industry in the lead up to the World Youth Day Mass to take place at
the Sydney racecourse next year.

The Sydney Morning Herald
reports that most railings for the tracks would come down, making it
impossible to prepare horses meaning that they would have to go
elsewhere for a long or short term.

Sydney's Warwick Farm race track is already at saturation point the Herald says with the result that private training centres are being investigated as alternatives.

Acording to Herald
sources, the Rosehill racecourse is making arrangements to cover the
gap but questions are being raised as to who will cover the costs and
as to the damage likely to be caused by the extra wear.

Rain and
trampling feet at Randwick could also created problems for the track
that would last several years, the report says, warning that trainers -
including Catholic trainers - are gearing up for action.

World
Youth Day is the largest youth event in the world, to be held in July
next year. It is expected to attract up to 500,000 young Catholics.
Sydney's Randwick Racecourse will be the site of the celebration's
closing Mass with Pope Benedict.